A former sports trader for DraftKings is now facing serious felony charges in Nevada following an investigation into questionable player prop bets involving Fresno State athletes. This inquiry has already led to lifetime NCAA bans for two former players.
Samuel Silverman, who previously worked as a sports trader for DraftKings, was arrested in Las Vegas on May 5. He is accused of engaging in a betting scheme with a former Fresno State basketball player, who allegedly underperformed in a game in 2025 for financial gain. The charges against Silverman include committing a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment and conspiracy to cheat at gambling, both classified as Class C felonies under Nevada law.
Silverman has entered a plea of not guilty. His attorney, Michael D. Pariente, stated, “We will mount a robust defense for Mr. Silverman in court, relying on facts and evidence rather than public opinion, which is often influenced by bias and speculation.”
The allegations originated from an investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) into suspicious betting activities associated with Fresno State’s basketball team.
According to ESPN’s analysis of the investigative documents, Silverman is said to have conspired with former Fresno State player Mykell Robinson, Robinson’s ex-teammate Steven Vasquez, and fellow DraftKings trader Matthew Martin. DraftKings confirmed that both Silverman and Martin were employed as sports traders in their Las Vegas office during 2025 but clarified that they were not responsible for setting odds for college basketball.
Investigators claim that Martin placed three same-game parlays totaling $2,200 on Robinson's performance metrics—points, rebounds, assists, and three-pointers—during a game against Colorado State on January 7, 2025. Robinson played only 21 minutes, scoring three points, grabbing two rebounds, and recording no assists. This scheme reportedly generated around $15,950 in winnings.
Furthermore, authorities allege that Silverman assisted in distributing the betting winnings after the wagers were settled. They identified approximately $11,325 in winnings linked to Martin, $3,000 to Silverman, $1,425 to Robinson, and $200 to Vasquez.
The current charges follow an NCAA investigation in September 2025, which found that Robinson, Vasquez, and former Fresno State player Jalen Weaver had breached NCAA gambling regulations. All three were permanently declared ineligible.
At that time, the NCAA noted that Robinson and Vasquez had coordinated bets on Robinson's performance prior to the January 7 game, resulting in $2,200 in bets that yielded about $15,950 in winnings. These figures correspond with the allegations found in the newly released investigative documents.
In June, the NGCB announced the conclusion of its investigation into suspicious betting involving Fresno State men's basketball games during the 2024-25 season. They confirmed one arrest but indicated that further suspects are still under scrutiny. The NGCB stated that criminal charges against additional individuals are actively being pursued, with Chairman Mike Dreitzer emphasizing the agency's commitment to investigating activities that may compromise the integrity of regulated sports betting.
This case underscores ongoing concerns regarding the integrity of NCAA betting, as it follows other recent incidents of alleged manipulation of college basketball player prop bets. Earlier this year, former Eastern Michigan player Jalen Smith, involved in a point-shaving scheme, pleaded guilty, while alleged bookmaker Marves Fairley also entered a guilty plea in the same case. In June, the NCAA permanently ruled former Iona player Adam Njie Jr. ineligible for his involvement in the scheme. Additionally, six players from the University of New Orleans and Mississippi Valley State have faced bans.